Honestly, it’s life changing is a regular series where we talk about the weird and wonderful possessions we can’t imagine life without. Think of it as an ode to the mundane, bizarre and, sometimes, wholly unnecessary products in our lives.
My makeup bag consists of one liquid eyeliner and a lengthening mascara, that’s it. I’m clueless when it comes to beauty and skincare – I do, however, know one thing: if you want your makeup to stay on for hours without budging, you need Urban Decay’s All Nighter setting spray.
I learned this important life lesson on the day of my best friend’s wedding. Yes, it was a long day and I spent the best part of five hours on the dance floor, but also: there were many, many tears.
As bridesmaids, we started early. By 8am, I had more makeup on than I do for a night out and I wanted it to last through to the end of the day. But I knew that my perfect liquid eyeliner flicks stood no chance against my emotions.
A few minutes before we left for the church, another bridesmaid offered a solution. “Do you want to use my setting spray?” she asked. I had no idea what it was, but I agreed. She sprayed three squirts onto my face and I was good to go. And it certainly beat my other plan: cry, wipe, reapply, repeat.
Fast forward to the church and I was standing alongside my best friend and the other five bridesmaids. We all had a cry and a hug and as we walked down the aisle, more tears came streaming down my cheeks.
My eyes were like taps. I reached the front and sat down next to a friend – certain my eyeliner must be dripping by now. “It’s absolutely fine!” she said. “It’s not even smudged one bit!”
Several hours later – and a load more tears during the vows – and still, not one smudge. Despite being told by all the women around me that my makeup was, in fact, intact – I had to keep checking for myself. Every time I looked in the mirror, I was shocked it looked no different.
A sweat-filled afternoon in the hot bank holiday sun? Makeup stayed on. An hour of crying during the speeches? Still didn’t budge. Five hours of singing, dancing, sweating and dancing some more? Zero change. I got back to the hotel room – 16 hours after applying my makeup – and it had stayed put.
When I burst into the office come Monday morning, excited to share my new discovery, I found out I’m not the only one to sing the praises of this spray. Earlier this year we covered the amazing five-star reviews it regularly receives.
A few weeks later, I wore the spray on a day of drinking with my friends (yes, I loved it so much I bought my own). Three spritzes on my face in the morning and my face looked little different when I got home 10 hours later.
It really is the best £24 you’ll ever spend.
We all work hard to earn our money – so it shouldn’t feel like hard work to spend it well. At HuffPost Finds we’ll help you find the best stuff that deserves your cash, from the ultimate lipstick to a durable iron to replace the one that broke (RIP). All our choices are completely independent but we may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase.